As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6, 2010
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Singapore
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1 Yishun Avenue 7
Singapore 768923
(65) 6755-7888
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Corporation Service Company
1090 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (800) 222-2122
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Anthony J. Richmond
Latham & Watkins LLP
140 Scott Drive
Menlo Park, California 94025
(650) 328-4600
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | x | Non-accelerated filer | ¨ |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered (1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Unit (1) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1) |
Amount of Registration Fee (2) | ||||
Ordinary shares, no par value(3) |
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Debt Securities(4) |
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Warrants(5) |
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Rights(6) |
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Purchase Contracts(7) |
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Units(8) |
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Total
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(1)
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(1)
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(1)
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(2)
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(1) | Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II.E to Form S-3 under the Securities Act. An unspecified aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class of securities is being registered for possible offering from time to time at indeterminate prices. The proposed maximum offering price per security will be determined from time to time by the registrants in connection with, and at the time of, offering by the registrants of the securities registered hereby. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are offered in units. Securities may be denominated in U.S. dollars or the equivalent thereof in foreign currency or currency units. |
(2) | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of all applicable registration fees. |
(3) | Ordinary shares may be issued in primary or secondary offerings or upon conversion of debt and other securities of the registrant registered hereby. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, ordinary shares being registered hereby include such indeterminate number of shares of ordinary shares as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereby as a result of share splits, share dividends or similar transactions. |
(4) | Debt securities may be issued in primary or secondary offerings or upon conversion of debt securities registered hereby. |
(5) | Warrants may be issued in primary or secondary offerings. Warrants may be issued representing rights to purchase ordinary shares or debt securities of the registrant (as shall be designated by the registrant at the time of any such offering) registered hereby. |
(6) | Rights may be issued to purchase ordinary shares and/or any of the other securities of the registrant registered hereby. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between the registrant and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. |
(7) | Purchase contracts may be issued for the purchase and sale of any securities of the registrant registered hereby. |
(8) | Units may be issued that may consist of any combination of the other securities of the registrant registered hereby. |
PROSPECTUS
Ordinary Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Purchase Contracts
Units
From time to time, we or certain selling securityholders may offer the securities described in this prospectus separately or together in any combination, in one or more classes or series, in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering.
We will provide the specific terms of these offerings and securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read carefully this prospectus, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol AVGO.
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES WILL BE DESCRIBED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND/OR CERTAIN OF OUR FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AS DESCRIBED UNDER RISK FACTORS ON PAGE 1.
We may offer and sell the securities directly, through agents we select from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers we select, or through a combination of these methods. In addition, certain selling securityholders may offer and sell our securities from time to time, together or separately. We will provide specific information about any selling securityholders in one or more supplements to this prospectus. If we or the selling securityholders use any agents, underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of those securities and the net proceeds we or any selling securityholders expect to receive from that sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is August 6, 2010.
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ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS |
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Important Notice About the Information Presented In This Prospectus
You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom or from whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation of an offer in such jurisdiction. You should assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may have changed since that date.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we are registering an unspecified amount of each class of the securities described in this prospectus, and we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or any selling securityholder may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. To the extent that this prospectus is used by any securityholder to resell any securities, information with respect to the securityholder and the terms of the securities being offered will be contained in a prospectus supplement. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements, any applicable free writing prospectuses and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, includes all material information relating to the securities we may offer or any selling securityholder may offer. Please carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, together with the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus described below under the heading Where You Can Find More Information, before making a decision to purchase any of our securities.
The prospectus supplement will describe: the specific terms of the securities offered, any initial public offering price, the price paid to us for the securities, the net proceeds to us, the manner of distribution and any underwriting compensation, and the other specific material terms related to the offering of the securities. The prospectus supplement may also contain information, where applicable, about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of the documents referred to herein have been filed, or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under Where You Can Find More Information.
This prospectus has not been and will not be registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for the subscription or purchase, of any of the securities registered hereby may not be circulated or distributed, nor may any of the securities registered hereby be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore.
As used in this prospectus, Avago, Company, we, our, us or Successor refer to Avago Technologies Limited and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, unless otherwise indicated. As used in this prospectus, Predecessor refers to the Semiconductor Products Group, or SPG, of Agilent Technologies, Inc., or Agilent.
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Investing in our securities involves risks. Before you make a decision to buy our securities, in addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed below under Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements, you should carefully consider the specific risks set forth under the caption Risk Factors in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and under the caption Risk Factors in our filings with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, incorporated by reference herein and/or included in any prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision. Additionally, the risks and uncertainties discussed in this prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face, and our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations and the market price of any securities we may sell could be materially adversely affected by other matters that are not known to us or that we currently do not consider to be material.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC, but the registration statement includes additional information and also attaches exhibits that are referenced in this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. Some items are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or any other document referred to are summaries of the material terms of the respective contract, agreement or other document. With respect to each of these contracts, agreements or other documents filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to the exhibits for a more complete description of the matter involved. A copy of the registration statement, and the exhibits and schedules thereto, may be inspected without charge at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of these materials may be obtained by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SECs website is http://www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available for inspection and copying at the public reference room and website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at www.avagotech.com. You may access our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on our website.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference information in this prospectus that we have filed with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document already on file with the SEC. The information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC and any future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act between the date of this prospectus and the termination of the offering (excluding any document, or portion thereof, to the extent such document or portion thereof is furnished and not filed):
| Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 1, 2009, filed with the SEC on December 15, 2009 and Amendment to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on January 15, 2010; |
| Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended January 31, 2010, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2010; |
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| Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended May 2, 2010, filed with the SEC on June 3, 2010; |
| Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 7, 2009 (as amended by the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on January 25, 2010), March 26, 2010, April 1, 2010, April 19, 2010 and July 2, 2010; and |
| The description of our ordinary shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (Commission File No. 001-34428), filed with the SEC on August 3, 2009, including any subsequent amendment or any report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a later statement contained in this prospectus or in any other document incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owners, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of the reports and documents that have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus, at no cost. Any such request may be made by writing or telephoning us at the following address or phone number:
Avago Technologies Limited
Attn: Investor Relations
c/o Avago Technologies U.S. Inc.
350 West Trimble Road, Building 90
San Jose, California 95131 U.S.A.
Telephone: +1 (408) 435-7400
These documents can also be requested through, and are available in, the Investors section of our website, which is located at www.avagotech.com, or as described under Where You Can Find Additional Information above. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on our website.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve risks and uncertainties. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as believe, expect, may, will, should, seek, approximately, intend, plan, estimate, or anticipate or similar expressions that concern our strategy, plans or intentions. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, but not limited to, any projections of financial information; any statements about historical results that may suggest trends for our business; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements of expectation or belief regarding future events, technology developments, or enforceability of our intellectual property rights; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. All statements we make relating to estimated and projected earnings, margins, costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections of future Company or industry performance based on managements judgment, beliefs, current trends and market conditions and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. We derive most of our forward-looking statements from our operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. Accordingly, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed under Risk Factors, elsewhere in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, including, without limitation, in conjunction with the forward-looking statements included in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Some of the factors that we believe could affect our results include:
| the recent economic downturn and financial crisis and their impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition; |
| cyclicality in the semiconductor industry or in our target markets; |
| quarterly and annual fluctuations in operating results; |
| our ability to adapt to technological changes in the semiconductor industry; |
| our dependence on contract manufacturing and outsourced supply chain and our ability to improve our cost structure through our manufacturing outsourcing program; |
| inability to continuously improve manufacturing efficiency and quality; |
| our competitive performance and ability to continue achieving design wins with our customers; |
| our ability to protect our intellectual property, defending against third-party intellectual property claims and associated increases in litigation expenditures; |
| investment in research and development; |
| departure of key senior managers and the ability to retain and attract key personnel; |
| any expenses or reputational damage associated with resolving customer product and warranty claims and product recalls; |
| loss of one or more of our significant customers; |
| our increased dependence on outsourced service providers for certain key business services and their ability to execute to our requirements; |
| risks relating to the transaction of business internationally; |
| currency fluctuations; |
| the effects of war, terrorism, natural disasters or other catastrophic events; |
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| prolonged disruptions of our manufacturing facilities; |
| our ability to maintain tax concessions in certain jurisdictions; |
| changes in tax laws; |
| our ability to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from our acquisitions and delays and challenges associated with integrating acquired companies with our existing businesses; |
| the effects of government regulation on our business; |
| dependence on and risks associated with distributors of our products; |
| our ability to generate cash sufficient to fund our research and development, capital expenditures and other business needs and to service our debt; |
| our indebtedness; |
| certain covenants in our debt documents; and |
| other events and trends on a national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive and regulatory nature. |
All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors listed above and those discussed under the heading Risk Factors in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and/or in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, Item 1A under the heading Risk Factors and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. In addition, there may be other factors of which we are not currently aware that may affect matters discussed in the forward-looking statements, and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us. All of our forward-looking statements, including those included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, are qualified in their entirety by this statement.
We caution you that the foregoing list of important factors may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement may not in fact occur. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
You should carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in their entirety. They contain information that you should consider when making your investment decision.
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER
UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
We are incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Singapore, and certain of our officers and directors are or will be residents outside the United States. Moreover, a majority of our consolidated assets are located outside the United States. Although we are incorporated outside the United States, we have agreed to accept service of process in the United States through our agent designated for that purpose. Nevertheless, since a majority of the consolidated assets owned by us are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us may not be collectible within the United States. There is no treaty between the United States and Singapore providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters and a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any federal or state court in the United States based on civil liability, whether or not predicated solely upon the federal securities laws, would, therefore, not be automatically enforceable in Singapore. There is doubt whether a Singapore court may impose civil liability on us or our directors and officers who reside in Singapore in a suit brought in the Singapore courts against us or such persons with respect to a violation solely of the federal securities laws of the United States, unless the facts surrounding such a violation would constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Singapore law. Consequently, it may be difficult for investors to enforce against us, our directors or our officers in Singapore judgments obtained in the United States which are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States.
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We are a leading designer, developer and global supplier of a broad range of analog semiconductor devices with a focus on III-V based products. We differentiate ourselves through our high performance design and integration capabilities. III-V semiconductor materials have higher electrical conductivity, enabling faster speeds and tend to have better performance characteristics than conventional silicon in applications such as radio frequency, or RF, and optoelectronics. III-V refers to elements from those groups in the periodic table of chemical elements, and examples of these materials are gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium nitride (GaN) and indium phosphide (InP). Our product portfolio is extensive and includes over 6,500 products in four primary target markets: wireless communications, wired infrastructure, industrial and automotive electronics, and consumer and computing peripherals. Applications for our products in these target markets include cellular phones, consumer appliances, data networking and telecommunications equipment, enterprise storage and servers, factory automation, displays, optical mice and printers.
We have an almost 50-year history of innovation dating back to our origins within Hewlett-Packard Company. Over the years, we have assembled a large team of analog design engineers, and we maintain design and product development engineering resources around the world. Our locations include two design centers in the United States, five in Asia and four in Europe. We have developed an extensive portfolio of intellectual property that currently includes more than 5,000 U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications.
We have a diversified and well-established customer base of approximately 40,000 end customers which we serve through our multi-channel sales and fulfillment system. We distribute most of our products through our broad distribution network, and a significant portion of our sales are to two of the largest global electronic components distributors, Avnet, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc. We also have a direct sales force focused on supporting large original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs. For the year ended November 1, 2009, our top 10 customers, which included four distributors, collectively accounted for 60% of our net revenue. During the six months ended May 2, 2010, our top 10 customers, which included five distributors, collectively accounted for 58% of our net revenue.
We focus on maintaining an efficient global supply chain and a variable, low-cost operating model. Accordingly, we have outsourced a majority of our manufacturing operations. We have over 40 years of operating history in Asia, where approximately 60% of our employees are located and where we produce and source the majority of our products. Our presence in Asia places us in close proximity to many of our customers and at the center of worldwide electronics manufacturing.
Avago Technologies Limited was incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Singapore in August 2005. Our Singapore company registration number is 200510713C. The address of our registered office and our principal executive offices is 1 Yishun Avenue 7, Singapore 768923, and our telephone number is +65-6755-7888. We are the successor to the Semiconductor Products Group of Agilent, which we acquired on December 1, 2005 in a transaction that we refer to in this prospectus as the SPG Acquisition. All of our operations are conducted through our various subsidiaries, which are organized and operated according to the laws of their country of incorporation, and consolidated by Avago Technologies Limited.
Our website address is www.avagotech.com. The information on, or accessible through, our website is not part of this prospectus.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(in millions, except ratio data)
Predecessor | Company | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended | One Month Ended |
Year Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
October 31, 2005 |
November 30, 2005 |
October 31, 2006 |
October 31, 2007 |
November 2, 2008 |
November 1, 2009 |
May 2, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||
Fixed charges (1) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
$ | | $ | | $ | 121 | $ | 105 | $ | 82 | $ | 73 | $ | 18 | |||||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
| | 22 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Portion of rental expense representative of interest (2) |
6 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total fixed charges |
$ | 6 | $ | 1 | $ | 147 | $ | 112 | $ | 90 | $ | 81 | $ | 21 | |||||||||||
Earnings |
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Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
$ | 14 | $ | (23 | ) | $ | (225 | ) | $ | (212 | ) | $ | 60 | $ | (36 | ) | $ | 141 | |||||||
Fixed charges per above |
6 | 1 | 147 | 112 | 90 | 81 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total earnings |
$ | 20 | $ | (22 | ) | $ | (78 | ) | $ | (100 | ) | $ | 150 | $ | 45 | $ | 162 | ||||||||
Deficiency of earnings to fixed charges |
$ | | $ | (23 | ) | $ | (225 | ) | $ | (212 | ) | $ | | $ | (36 | ) | $ | | |||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (3) |
3.3 | | | | 1.7 | | 7.7 |
(1) | For purposes of computing this ratio of earnings to fixed charges, fixed charges consist of interest expense on all indebtedness plus amortization of debt issuance costs and an estimate of interest expense within rental expense. Earnings consist of pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations plus fixed charges. |
(2) | The Company uses one-third of rental expense as an estimation of the interest factor on its rental expense. |
(3) | Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $23 million, $225 million, $212 million, and $36 million for the one month ended November 30, 2005, the fiscal years ended October 31, 2006, October 31, 2007 and November 1, 2009, respectively. |
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Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities under this prospectus for our general corporate purposes. We will not receive any of the proceeds from sales of securities by selling securityholders, if any, pursuant to this prospectus.
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General
As of May 2, 2010, we had:
| 238,586,390 ordinary shares outstanding held by approximately 52 shareholders of record; and |
| 22,006,795 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options. |
The following description of our share capital, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the ordinary shares that we may offer from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future ordinary shares that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any offering in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description of our share capital and provisions of our memorandum and articles of association are summaries and are qualified by reference to the memorandum and articles of association, copies of which have been previously filed with the SEC.
Ordinary Shares
We currently have only one class of issued shares, which have identical rights in all respects and rank equally with one another. Our ordinary shares have no par value and there is no concept of authorized share capital under Singapore law. All shares presently issued are fully paid and existing shareholders are not subject to any calls on shares. Although Singapore law does not recognize the concept of non-assessability with respect to newly-issued shares, we note that any purchaser of our shares who has fully paid up all amounts due with respect to such shares will not be subject under Singapore law to any personal liability to contribute to the assets or liabilities of our company in such purchasers capacity solely as a holder of such shares. We believe that this interpretation is substantively consistent with the concept of non-assessability under most, if not all, U.S. state corporations laws. All shares are in registered form. We cannot, except in the circumstances permitted by the Singapore Companies Act, grant any financial assistance for the acquisition or proposed acquisition of our own shares.
There is a provision in our articles of association which enables us to issue shares with preferential, deferred, qualified or other special rights, privileges, conditions or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital, redemption or otherwise, as our directors may deem fit with respect to additional classes of shares, subject to the provisions of the Singapore Companies Act, our articles of association and any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any existing shares or class of shares. For more information, see Preference Shares.
New Shares
Under Singapore law and our articles of association, new shares may be issued only with the prior approval of our shareholders in a general meeting. General approval may be sought from our shareholders in a general meeting for the issue of shares. Approval, if granted, will lapse at the earlier of:
| the conclusion of the next annual general meeting; |
| the expiration of the period within which the next annual general meeting is required by law to be held (i.e., within 15 months from the last annual general meeting); or |
| the subsequent revocation or modification of approval by our shareholders acting at a duly noticed and convened meeting. |
At our annual general meeting on March 31, 2010, our shareholders approved and provided our board of directors with general authority to allot and issue new ordinary shares in the Companys capital without further shareholder action. This general authority includes the authority, among other matters, to make or grant offers, agreements, options or other instruments requiring the issuance of ordinary shares (including the grant of awards or options pursuant to the Companys equity-based incentive plans in effect as at March 31, 2010 and the creation and issuance of warrants, debentures or other instruments convertible into ordinary shares), which authority shall continue in effect until the earlier of the conclusion of our 2011 annual general meeting of shareholders or the expiration of the period within which our 2011 annual general meeting of shareholders is required by law to be held. Subject to this, the provisions of the Singapore
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Companies Act, our articles of association and the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or Nasdaq, the directors control the allotment and issuance of all new ordinary shares and may issue new ordinary shares to such persons on such terms and conditions and with the rights and restrictions as they may think fit to impose.
Preference Shares
Our articles of association provide that we may, subject to the prior approval in a general meeting of our shareholders, issue shares of a different class with preferential, deferred, qualified or other special rights, privileges or conditions as our board of directors may determine. Under Singapore law, our preference shareholders will have the right to attend any general meeting and in a poll at such general meeting, to have at least one vote for every preference share held:
| upon any resolution concerning the winding-up of our company; |
| upon any resolution which varies the rights attached to such preference shares; or |
| when the dividends to be paid on our preference shares are more than twelve months in arrears, for the period they remain unpaid. |
We may, subject to the prior approval in a general meeting of our shareholders, issue preference shares which are, at our option, subject to redemption, provided that such preference shares may not be redeemed out of capital unless:
| all the directors have made a solvency statement in relation to such redemption; and |
| we have lodged a copy of the statement with the Singapore Registrar of Companies. |
Further, the shares must be fully paid-up before they are redeemed.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares
Subject to applicable securities laws in relevant jurisdictions and our articles of association, our ordinary shares are freely transferable. Shares may be transferred by a duly signed instrument of transfer in any usual or common form or in a form acceptable to the Company. The directors may in their discretion decline to register any transfer of shares on which we have a lien. The directors may also decline to register any transfer unless, among other things, evidence of payment of any stamp duty payable with respect to the transfer is provided together with other evidence of ownership and title as the directors may require. We will replace lost or destroyed certificates for shares upon notice to us and upon, among other things, the applicant furnishing evidence and indemnity as the directors may require and the payment of all applicable fees.
Election and Re-election of Directors
Under our articles of association, our board of directors may appoint any person to be a director as an additional director or to fill a casual vacancy, provided that any person so appointed shall hold office only until the next annual general meeting, and shall then be eligible for re-election.
Under our articles of association, no person other than a director retiring at a general meeting is eligible for appointment as a director at any general meeting, without the recommendation of the Board for election, unless (a) in the case of a member or members who in aggregate hold(s) more than fifty percent of the total number of our issued and paid-up shares (excluding treasury shares), not less than ten days, or (b) in the case of a member or members who in aggregate hold(s) more than five percent of the total number of our issued and paid-up shares (excluding treasury shares), not less than 120 days, before the date of the notice provided to members in connection with the general meeting, a written notice signed by such member or members (other than the person to be proposed for appointment) who (i) are qualified to attend and vote at the meeting for which such notice is given, and (ii) have held shares representing the prescribed threshold in (a) or (b) above, for a continuous period of at least one year prior to the date on which such notice is given, is lodged at our registered office. Such a notice must also include the consent of the person nominated.
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Shareholders Meetings
We are required to hold an annual general meeting each year and not more than 15 months after the holding of the last preceding annual general meeting. The directors may convene an extraordinary general meeting whenever they think fit and they must do so upon the written request of shareholders representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all shareholders. In addition, two or more shareholders holding not less than one-tenth of our total number of issued shares (excluding our treasury shares) may call a meeting of our shareholders.
Unless otherwise required by law or by our articles of association, voting at general meetings is by ordinary resolution, requiring the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the resolution. An ordinary resolution suffices, for example, for appointments of directors. A special resolution, requiring an affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the resolution, is necessary for certain matters under Singapore law, such as an alteration of our articles of association.
Voting Rights
Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by poll. On a poll every shareholder who is present in person or by proxy or by attorney, or in the case of a corporation, by a representative, has one vote for every share held by such shareholder.
Dividends
To date, we have not declared any cash dividends on our ordinary shares. However, our board of directors has adopted a dividend policy authorizing the Company to pay a quarterly cash dividend not to exceed $0.07 per ordinary share, per quarter, with the declaration and payment of such dividend to commence no earlier than the first quarter of the fiscal year ending October 30, 2011. The actual declaration and payment of any such cash dividends will be at the discretion of, and subject to the further approval by, our board of directors and will depend upon such factors as our earnings levels, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, cash position, overall financial condition and any other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. The payment of any dividends is also subject to there being sufficient distributable profits out of which dividends can be declared, as well as the other constraints and factors discussed below.
The payment of cash dividends on ordinary shares is restricted under the terms of the agreements governing our indebtedness, applicable law and our corporate structure. Pursuant to Singapore law and our articles of association, no dividends may be paid except out of our profits. Also, because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our ordinary shares may be limited by restrictions on our ability to obtain sufficient funds through dividends from subsidiaries, including restrictions under the terms of the agreements governing our indebtedness.
Bonus and Rights Issues
Pursuant to the general authority granted to our board of directors at our 2010 annual general meeting of shareholders, our board of directors may, without further shareholder approval:
| capitalize any reserves or profits and distribute the same as fully paid bonus ordinary shares to shareholders in proportion to their shareholdings; |
| issue bonus shares to participants of any share incentive or option scheme; or plan implemented by us and approved by our shareholders, in such manner and on such terms as our board of directors may think fit; and |
| issue rights to take up additional shares to shareholders in proportion to their shareholdings, with such rights being subject to any conditions attached to such issue and the regulations of the Nasdaq. |
Takeovers
The Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers regulates, among other things, the acquisition of ordinary shares of Singapore-incorporated public companies. Any person acquiring an interest, whether by a series of transactions over a period of time or not, either on their own or together with parties acting in concert with such person, in 30% or more
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of our voting shares, or, if such person holds, either on their own or together with parties acting in concert with such person, between 30% and 50% (both amounts inclusive) of our voting shares, and if such person (or parties acting in concert with such person) acquires additional voting shares representing more than 1% of our voting shares in any six-month period, must, except with the consent of the Securities Industry Council in Singapore, extend a mandatory takeover offer for the remaining voting shares in accordance with the provisions of the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers.
Parties acting in concert comprise individuals or companies who, pursuant to an agreement or understanding (whether formal or informal), cooperate, through the acquisition by any of them of shares in a company, to obtain or consolidate effective control of that company. Certain persons are presumed (unless the presumption is rebutted) to be acting in concert with each other. They are as follows:
| a company and its related companies, the associated companies of any of the company and its related companies, companies whose associated companies include any of these companies and any person who has provided financial assistance (other than a bank in the ordinary course of business) to any of the foregoing for the purchase of voting rights; |
| a company and its directors (including their close relatives, related trusts and companies controlled by any of the directors, their close relatives and related trusts); |
| a company and its pension funds and employee share schemes; |
| a person with any investment company, unit trust or other fund whose investment such person manages on a discretionary basis but only in respect of the investment account which such person manages; |
| a financial or other professional adviser, including a stockbroker, and its clients in respect of shares held by the adviser and persons controlling, controlled by or under the same control as the adviser and all the funds managed by the adviser on a discretionary basis, where the shareholdings of the adviser and any of those funds in the client total 10% or more of the clients equity share capital; |
| directors of a company (including their close relatives, related trusts and companies controlled by any of such directors, their close relatives and related trusts) which is subject to an offer or where the directors have reason to believe a bona fide offer for the company may be imminent; |
| partners; and |
| an individual and such persons close relatives, related trusts, any person who is accustomed to act in accordance with such persons instructions and companies controlled by the individual, such persons close relatives, related trusts or any person who is accustomed to act in accordance with such persons instructions and any person who has provided financial assistance (other than a bank in the ordinary course of business) to any of the foregoing for the purchase of voting rights. |
A mandatory offer must be in cash or be accompanied by a cash alternative at not less than the highest price paid by the offeror or parties acting in concert with the offeror during the offer period and within the six months preceding the acquisition of shares that triggered the mandatory offer obligation.
Under the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers, where effective control of a company is acquired or consolidated by a person, or persons acting in concert, a general offer to all other shareholders is normally required. An offeror must treat all shareholders of the same class in an offeree company equally. A fundamental requirement is that shareholders in the company subject to the takeover offer must be given sufficient information, advice and time to consider and decide on the offer. These legal requirements may impede or delay a takeover of our company by a third-party.
We may submit an application to the Securities Industry Council of Singapore for a waiver from the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers so that the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers will not apply to our company for so long as we are not listed on a securities exchange in Singapore. We will make an appropriate announcement if we submit the application and when the result of the application is known.
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Liquidation or Other Return of Capital
On a winding-up or other return of capital, subject to any special rights attaching to any other class of shares, holders of ordinary shares will be entitled to participate in any surplus assets in proportion to their shareholdings.
Limitations on Rights to Hold or Vote Ordinary Shares
Except as discussed above under Takeovers, there are no limitations imposed by the laws of Singapore or by our articles of association on the right of non-resident shareholders to hold or vote ordinary shares.
Second Amended and Restated Shareholder Agreement
Investors, to which we refer to in this prospectus as the Equity Investors, invested approximately $1,300 million in our business as part of the SPG Acquisition. In connection with the closing of the SPG Acquisition, we entered into a shareholder agreement with the Equity Investors, other than members of management, who are party to separate agreements. In connection with our initial public offering, or IPO, we and the Equity Investors amended and restated the shareholder agreement to delete or curtail provisions that became inoperative or unnecessary upon us becoming a public company. Set forth below is a description of the Second Amended and Restated Shareholder Agreement, referred to in this prospectus as the Shareholder Agreement.
Board Composition. The Shareholder Agreement provides that our board of directors must consist of eleven members unless otherwise agreed upon by investment funds affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., or KKR, and investment funds affiliated with Silver Lake Partners, or Silver Lake, and that, subject to election by our shareholders at each annual general meeting, certain of our shareholders have the right to designate director nominees to our board of directors as follows:
| three designees of KKR, for so long as KKR and its affiliates either continue to own, directly or indirectly, at least 24% of our outstanding ordinary shares or have not transferred any shares to an unaffiliated third-party, provided that KKR has the right to designate two directors for so long as KKR and its affiliates continue to own, directly or indirectly, at least 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares and one director for so long as KKR and its affiliates continue to own, directly or indirectly, at least 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares; |
| three designees of Silver Lake, for so long as Silver Lake and its affiliates either continue to own, directly or indirectly, at least 24% of our outstanding ordinary shares or have not transferred any shares to an unaffiliated third-party, provided that Silver Lake has the right to designate two directors for so long as Silver Lake and its affiliates continue to own, directly or indirectly, at least 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares and one director for so long as Silver Lake and its affiliates continue to own, directly or indirectly, at least 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares; |
| one designee of Seletar Investments Pte Ltd, or Seletar, an affiliate of Temasek Capital (Private) Limited, so long as it either continues to own, directly or indirectly, 2.5% of our outstanding shares and has not sold any of its shares, or continues to own, directly or indirectly, 5% of our outstanding shares; |
| our Chief Executive Officer; and |
| three other directors mutually agreeable to KKR and Silver Lake, to which we refer collectively in this prospectus as the Sponsors. |
The number of other directors mutually agreeable to the Sponsors may be increased from time to time with the Sponsors prior approval, however, the Sponsors may revoke such approval at any time and immediately remove the excess director from the board of directors. Currently, as agreed by KKR and Silver Lake, our board of directors consists of nine members, with KKR and Silver Lake each having two designees on our board of directors.
Each of KKR, Silver Lake and Seletar has the right to remove and replace its director-designees at any time and for any reason and to fill any vacancies otherwise resulting in such director positions. If the number of directors that an Equity Investor is entitled to designate is reduced, any vacant seats on our board of directors will be filled by the board of directors acting in accordance with its nomination and governance procedures.
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Each of KKR and Silver Lake has the right to designate one member to each committee of the board of directors, so long as such Sponsor has the right to designate one or more director nominees to the board of directors and subject to compliance with applicable federal securities laws and the requirements of the U.S. exchange on which our ordinary shares are traded.
The rights with respect to board composition described here will terminate upon a change in control transaction, as defined in the Shareholder Agreement.
Sponsor Approval. The Shareholder Agreement provides that the following actions by us or any of our subsidiaries require approval of the Sponsors for so long as the Sponsors own 50% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares:
| changing the size or composition of our board of directors; |
| entering into a change of control transaction; |
| acquiring or disposing of assets or entering into joint ventures with a value in excess of $300 million; |
| incurring indebtedness in excess of $300 million; |
| filing for voluntary liquidation, dissolution, receivership, bankruptcy or similar insolvency proceeding; |
| entering into certain transactions with the Sponsors or any of their affiliates; |
| making material changes in the nature of our business or our subsidiaries business; and |
| amending, waiving or otherwise modifying certain shareholder agreements. |
The Sponsors previously consented to the boards appointment of Mr. James Diller, Ms. Justine Lien and Mr. Donald Macleod to the board of directors.
Co-Investor Protections. The Shareholder Agreement provides that, other than actions specifically set forth therein, we will not take any action in respect of any class of our shares that has a materially disproportionate effect on specified Equity Investors other than the Sponsors, or the Co-Investors, as compared to the Sponsors, in their capacity as shareholders of such class of shares, without first obtaining the prior written consent of the Co-Investors holding a majority of such class of shares then held by the Co-Investors.
Transfer Restrictions. Prior to August 6, 2011 (two years after our IPO), neither KKR nor Silver Lake may transfer its shares without the approval of the other Sponsor, subject to certain permitted transfers. No Co-Investor may transfer its shares without the approval of the Sponsors, except (i) to permitted transferees, (ii) in a transfer in connection with a sale pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement described under Registration Rights Agreement, or (iii) if either Sponsor has reduced the number of shares it holds relative to the number of shares initially held by it, each Co-Investor may sell up to the number of shares as would cause such Co-Investor to reduce the number of shares it holds in the same proportion as that of such Sponsor. These transfer restrictions will terminate upon a change of control transaction unless terminated earlier by the Sponsors.
Tag Along Right. Prior to making any transfer of shares (other than certain customary permitted transfers, transfers in connection with sales pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, transfers pursuant to Rule 144 and certain distributions and charitable contributions), any prospective selling Sponsor must provide written notice to each Co-Investor setting forth the terms of such proposed transfer. Each Co-Investor may elect to sell up to its pro rata portion of the shares (based upon the ownership of such shares by the transferring Sponsor and all persons entitled to participate in such transfer) to be sold in such transfer. This tag along right will terminate upon a change of control transaction unless terminated earlier by the Sponsors.
Drag Along Right. If the Sponsors approve a change of control transaction, each Co-Investor will be required to vote in favor of and not oppose such transaction and, if structured as a sale of shares, sell its shares to a prospective buyer on the same terms that are applicable to the Sponsors. This drag along right will terminate upon a change of control transaction unless terminated earlier by the Sponsors.
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Information Rights. We have agreed to provide to the Equity Investors, so long as the applicable Equity Investor owns at least 2.5% of our outstanding ordinary shares, monthly financial information. We have agreed to provide to each shareholder party to the Shareholder Agreement the necessary information for the preparation of such shareholders income tax returns. So long as the applicable Equity Investor owns at least 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares, we have granted such Equity Investor rights to inspect our facilities, records, files and other information, and to meet with our management and outside accountants. Each shareholder party to the Shareholder Agreement agrees to keep confidential the confidential information obtained from us. The information rights will expire upon a change in control transaction.
Termination. The Shareholder Agreement may be amended or terminated, and the provisions thereof waived, by an agreement in writing signed by us and the Equity Investors holding not less than 70% of our outstanding ordinary shares held by all Equity Investors. If any amendment would adversely affect the rights of a particular Equity Investor or adversely impose additional material obligations on a particular Equity Investor, then the consent of such particular Equity Investor is required for the amendment.
Registration Rights Agreement
We are party to a registration rights agreement, or Registration Rights Agreement, which provides the Sponsors the right to demand that we file a registration statement and the Sponsors and the Co-Investors the right to request that their shares be covered by a registration statement that we are otherwise filing, subject to certain limitations. Prior to August 6, 2011 (two years after our IPO), upon the request of both Sponsors, we may be required to initiate an unlimited number of registrations under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, in order to register the resale of their ordinary shares with an anticipated aggregate offering price of at least $50 million in the case of a long-form registration and $20 million in the case of a short-form registration. After August 6, 2011 (two years after our IPO), each Sponsor may require us to initiate three long-form registrations, provided that each has an aggregate offering price of at least $50 million, and an unlimited number of short-form registrations, provided that each has an aggregate offering price of at least $20 million, under the Securities Act in order to register the resale of their ordinary shares. The minimum offering amounts may be reduced with the approval of the Sponsors. In the event that we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act, either for our own account or for the account of other securityholders, the Sponsors and Co-Investors are entitled to notice of such registration and are entitled to certain piggyback registration rights allowing them to include their ordinary shares in such registration, subject to certain marketing and other limitations. We may, in certain circumstances, defer such registrations. In addition, in an underwritten offering the managing underwriter, if any, has the right, subject to specified conditions, to limit the number of registrable securities such holders may include. Any such limitations on the number of registrable securities that may be included by such holders must be on a pro rata basis. The Registration Rights Agreement also contains customary cross-indemnification provisions.
Participants in our Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan for Executive Employees of Avago Technologies Limited and Subsidiaries, or the Executive Plan, are party to a Management Shareholders Agreement that provides them piggyback registration rights alongside with the Sponsors and Co-Investors. For more information, see Management Shareholders Agreement.
Management Shareholders Agreement
Each participant in the Executive Plan, including each executive officer, was required to enter into a Management Shareholders Agreement with the Company and its controlling shareholder, Bali Investments S.àr.l, or Bali, in connection with the executives purchase of shares pursuant to the Executive Plan. In addition, in connection with our IPO, any person holding options granted under our Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan for Senior Management Employees of Avago Technologies Limited and Subsidiaries, or the Senior Management Plan, to acquire 40,000 or more ordinary shares of the Company also entered into a Management Shareholders Agreement at the time of the IPO. Each Management Shareholders Agreement provides the company with certain rights that effectively restrict the transfer of the Companys ordinary shares until a change of control transaction or five years from the date of purchase, or in the case of options, the date of grant. The restrictive rights provided to Bali pursuant to each Management Shareholder Agreement include a bring along right whereby Bali can require participants to sell shares along with Bali. In addition, each executive holds a tag-along right whereby each executive may require Bali to allow the executive to sell along with Bali in certain sales, and piggyback registration rights allowing the executive to sell along with Bali in a public offering.
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Limitations of Liability and Indemnification Matters
Our articles of association provide that, subject to the provisions of the Singapore Companies Act, every director, managing director, secretary or other officer of our company or our subsidiaries and affiliates shall be entitled to be indemnified by our company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him or her in the execution and discharge of his or her duties or in relation thereto and in particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, no director, managing director, secretary or other officer of our company or our subsidiaries and affiliates shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other director or officer or for joining in any receipt or other act for conformity or for any loss or expense happening to our company through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by order of the directors for or on behalf of our company or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the moneys of our company shall be invested or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortious act of any person with whom any moneys, securities or effects shall be deposited or left or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in the execution of the duties of his or her office or in relation thereto unless the same happen through his or her own negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our articles of association may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our shareholders. A shareholders investment may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable.
The Nasdaq Global Select Market Listing
Our ordinary shares are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol AVGO.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
COMPARISON OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
We are incorporated under the laws of Singapore. The following discussion summarizes material differences between the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and the rights of holders of the common stock of a typical corporation incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware which result from differences in governing documents and the laws of Singapore and Delaware.
This discussion does not purport to be a complete or comprehensive statement of the rights of holders of our ordinary shares under applicable law in Singapore and our articles of association or the rights of holders of the common stock of a typical corporation under applicable Delaware law and a typical certificate of incorporation and bylaws.
The Singapore Companies Act contains the default articles that apply to a Singapore-incorporated company to the extent they are not excluded or modified by a companys articles of association. They provide examples of the common provisions adopted by companies in their articles of association. However, as is the usual practice for companies incorporated in Singapore, we have specifically excluded the application of these provisions in our articles of association, which we refer to below as our articles.
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Delaware |
Singapore Avago Technologies Limited | |
Board of Directors | ||
A typical certificate of incorporation and bylaws would provide that the number of directors on the board of directors will be fixed from time to time by a vote of the majority of the authorized directors. Under Delaware law, a board of directors can be divided into classes and cumulative voting in the election of directors is only permitted if expressly authorized in a corporations certificate of incorporation. | The memorandum and articles of association of companies will typically state the minimum and maximum number of directors as well as provide that the number of directors may be increased or reduced by shareholders via ordinary resolution passed at a general meeting, provided that the number of directors following such increase or reduction is within the maximum and minimum number of directors provided in our articles and the Singapore Companies Act, respectively. Our articles provide that the maximum number of directors will be 13. | |
Limitation on Personal Liability of Directors | ||
A typical certificate of incorporation provides for the elimination of personal monetary liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duties as directors to the fullest extent permissible under the laws of Delaware, except for liability (i) for any breach of a directors loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (relating to the liability of directors for unlawful payment of a dividend or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption) or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. A typical certificate of incorporation would also provide that if the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended so as to allow further elimination of, or limitations on, director liability, then the liability of directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as so amended. | Pursuant to the Singapore Companies Act, any provision (whether in the articles of association, contract or otherwise) exempting or indemnifying a director against any liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust will be void. Nevertheless, a director can be released by the shareholders of a company for breaches of duty to a company except in the case of fraud, illegality, insolvency and oppression or disregard of minority interests. Our articles provide that subject to the provisions of the Singapore Companies Act, every director, managing director, secretary and other officer of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, will be indemnified against any liability incurred by such person in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to be done or omitted by such person as an officer or employee of the company and in which judgment is given in their favor or in which such person is acquitted or in connection with any application under the Singapore Companies Act or any other Singapore statute in which relief is granted to such person by the court unless the same should happen through their own negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust. | |
Interested Shareholders | ||
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in specified corporate transactions (such as mergers, stock and asset sales, and loans) with an interested stockholder for three years following the time that the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Subject to specified exceptions, an interested stockholder is a person or group that owns 15% or more of the corporations outstanding voting stock (including any rights to acquire stock pursuant to an option, warrant, agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion or exchange rights, and stock with respect to which the person has voting rights only), or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the voting stock at any time within the previous three years. | There are no comparable provisions in Singapore with respect to public companies which are not listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited. |
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Delaware |
Singapore Avago Technologies Limited | |
A Delaware corporation may elect to opt out of, and not be governed by, Section 203 through a provision in either its original certificate of incorporation, or an amendment to its original certificate or bylaws that was approved by majority stockholder vote. With a limited exception, this amendment would not become effective until 12 months following its adoption. | ||
Removal of Directors | ||
A typical certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of holders of any preferred stock, directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority, or in some instances a supermajority, of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. A certificate of incorporation could also provide that such a right is only exercisable when a director is being removed for cause (removal of a director only for cause is the default rule in the case of a classified board). | According to the Singapore Companies Act, directors of a public company may be removed before expiration of their term of office with or without cause by ordinary resolution (i.e., a resolution which is passed by a simple majority of those shareholders present and voting in person or by proxy). Notice of the intention to move such a resolution has to be given to the company not less than 28 days before the meeting at which it is moved. The company shall then give notice of such resolution to its shareholders not less than 14 days before the meeting. Where any director removed in this manner was appointed to represent the interests of any particular class of shareholders or debenture holders, the resolution to remove such director will not take effect until such directors successor has been appointed. | |
Filling Vacancies on the Board of Directors | ||
A typical certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred stock, any vacancy, whether arising through death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal, an increase in the number of directors or any other reason, may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors, even if such directors remaining in office constitute less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. Any newly elected director usually holds office for the remainder of the full term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of the class of directors to which the newly elected director has been elected expires. | The articles of a Singapore company typically provide that the directors have the power to appoint any person to be a director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing directors, but so that the total number of directors will not at any time exceed the maximum number fixed in the articles. Any newly elected director shall hold office until the next following annual general meeting, where such director will then be eligible for re-election. Our articles provide that the directors may appoint any person to be a director as an additional director or to fill a vacancy provided that any person so appointed will only hold office until the next annual general meeting, and will then be eligible for re-election. | |
Amendment of Governing Documents | ||
Amendment of Certification of Incorporation and Bylaws
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, amendments to a corporations certificate of incorporation require the approval of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment. |
Alteration to memorandum and articles of association
Our memorandum and articles may be altered by special resolution (i.e., a resolution passed by at least a three-fourths majority of the shares entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy at a meeting for which not less than 21 days written notice is given). The board of directors has no right to amend the memorandum or articles. |
17
Delaware |
Singapore Avago Technologies Limited | |
If a class vote on the amendment is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, a majority of the outstanding stock of the class is required, unless a greater proportion is specified in the certificate of incorporation or by other provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the board of directors may amend bylaws if so authorized in the certificate of incorporation. The stockholders of a Delaware corporation also have the power to amend bylaws. | ||
Meetings of Shareholders | ||
Annual and Special Meetings
Typical bylaws provide that annual meetings of stockholders are to be held on a date and at a time fixed by the board of directors. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a special meeting of stockholders may be called by the board of directors or by any other person authorized to do so in the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws. |
Annual General Meetings
All companies are required to hold an annual general meeting once every calendar year. The first annual general meeting must be held within 18 months of the companys incorporation and subsequently, not more than 15 months may elapse between annual general meetings.
Extraordinary General Meetings
Any general meeting other than the annual general meeting is called an extraordinary general meeting. Two or more shareholders holding not less than 10% of the total number of issued shares (excluding treasury shares) may call an extraordinary general meeting. In addition, the articles usually also provide that general meetings may be convened in accordance with the Singapore Companies Act by the directors. Notwithstanding anything in the articles, the directors are required to convene a general meeting if required to do so by requisition (i.e., written notice to directors requiring that a meeting be called) by shareholder(s) holding not less than 10% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying voting rights.
Our articles provide that the directors may, whenever they think fit, convene an extraordinary general meeting. | |
Quorum Requirements
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporations certificate of incorporation or bylaws can specify the number of shares which constitute the quorum required to conduct business at a meeting, provided that in no event shall a quorum consist of less than one-third of the shares entitled to vote at a meeting. |
Quorum Requirements
Our articles provide that shareholders entitled to vote holding a majority of the number of our issued and paid-up shares, present in person or by proxy at a meeting, shall be a quorum. In the event a quorum is not present, the meeting may be adjourned for one week. When reconvened, the quorum for the meeting will be shareholders entitled to vote holding between them a majority of the number of our issued and paid-up shares, present in person or by proxy at such meeting. |
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Indemnification of Officers, Directors and Employees | ||
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to specified limitations in the case of derivative suits brought by a corporations stockholders in its name, a corporation may indemnify any person who is made a party to any third-party action, suit or proceeding on account of being a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation (or was serving at the request of the corporation in such capacity for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) against expenses, including attorneys fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding through, among other things, a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the suit or proceeding, if the person:
acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation or, in some circumstances, at least not opposed to its best interests; and
in a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Delaware corporate law permits indemnification by a corporation under similar circumstances for expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with the defense or settlement of a derivative action or suit, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which the action or suit was brought determines upon application that the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses which the court deems to be proper.
To the extent a director, officer, employee or agent is successful in the defense of such an action, suit or proceeding, the corporation is required by Delaware corporate law to indemnify such person for reasonable expenses incurred thereby. Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by such persons in defending any action, suit or proceeding may be paid in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of that person to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that that person is not entitled to be so indemnified. |
The Singapore Companies Act specifically provides that a company is allowed to:
purchase and maintain for any officer insurance against any liability which by law would otherwise attach to such officer in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such officer may be guilty in relation to the company; or
indemnify such officer or auditor against any liability incurred by such officer or auditor in defending any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) in which judgment is given in such officers favor or in which such officer is acquitted; or
indemnify such officer or auditor against any liability incurred by such officer or auditor in connection with any application under specified portions of the Singapore Companies Act in which relief is granted to such officer or auditor by a court.
In cases where a director is sued by the company, the Singapore Companies Act gives the court the power to relieve directors either wholly or partially from the consequences of their negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust. However, Singapore case law has indicated that such relief will not be granted to a director who has benefited as a result of his or her breach of trust. In order for relief to be obtained, it must be shown that (i) the director acted reasonably and honestly; and (ii) it is fair, having regard to all the circumstances of the case including those connected with such directors appointment, to excuse the director.
Our articles provide that subject to the provisions of the Singapore Companies Act, every director, managing director, secretary and other officer for the time being of our company and our subsidiaries and affiliates, will be indemnified by the company against any liability incurred by such person in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, which relates to anything done or omitted or alleged to be done or omitted by such person as an officer or employee of the company and in which judgment is given in their favor or in which such person is acquitted or in connection with any application under the Singapore Companies Act or any other Singapore statute in which relief is granted to such person by the court unless the same shall happen through their own negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust. | |
Shareholder Approval of Business Combinations | ||
Generally, under the Delaware General Corporation Law, completion of a merger, consolidation, or the sale, lease or exchange of substantially all of a corporations assets or dissolution requires approval by the board of directors | The Singapore Companies Act mandates that specified corporate actions require approval by the shareholders in a general meeting, notably:
notwithstanding anything in the companys |
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and by a majority (unless the certificate of incorporation requires a higher percentage) of outstanding stock of the corporation entitled to vote.
The Delaware General Corporation Law also requires a special vote of stockholders in connection with a business combination with an interested stockholder as defined in section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. See Interested Shareholders above. |
memorandum or articles, directors are not permitted to carry into effect any proposals for disposing of the whole or substantially the whole of the companys undertaking or property unless those proposals have been approved by shareholders in a general meeting;
subject to the memorandum of each amalgamating company, an amalgamation proposal must be approved by the shareholders of each amalgamating company via special resolution at a general meeting; and
notwithstanding anything in the companys memorandum or articles, the directors may not, without the prior approval of shareholders, issue shares, including shares being issued in connection with corporate actions. | |
Shareholder Action Without A Meeting | ||
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless otherwise provided in a corporations certificate of incorporation, any action that may be taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if the holders of outstanding stock, having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize such action, consent in writing. It is not uncommon for a corporations certificate of incorporation to prohibit such action. | There are no equivalent provisions in respect of public companies which are not listed in Singapore. | |
Shareholder Suits | ||
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a stockholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the corporation to enforce the rights of the corporation. An individual also may commence a class action suit on behalf of himself or herself and other similarly situated stockholders where the requirements for maintaining a class action under the Delaware General Corporation Law have been met. A person may institute and maintain such a suit only if such person was a stockholder at the time of the transaction which is the subject of the suit or his or her shares thereafter devolved upon him or her by operation of law. Additionally, under Delaware case law, the plaintiff generally must be a stockholder not only at the time of the transaction which is the subject of the suit, but also through the duration of the derivative suit. The Delaware General Corporation Law also requires that the derivative plaintiff make a demand on the directors of the corporation to assert the corporate claim before the suit may be prosecuted by the derivative plaintiff, unless such demand would be futile. | Derivative actions
The Singapore Companies Act has a provision, which is limited in its scope to companies that are not listed on the securities exchange in Singapore, which provides a mechanism enabling shareholders to apply to the court for leave to bring a derivative action on behalf of the company.
Applications are generally made by shareholders of the company or individual directors, but courts are given the discretion to allow such persons as they deem proper to apply (e.g., beneficial owner of shares).
It should be noted that this provision of the Singapore Companies Act is primarily used by minority shareholders to bring an action in the name and on behalf of the company or intervene in an action to which the company is a party for the purpose of prosecuting, defending or discontinuing the action on behalf of the company.
Class actions
The concept of class action suits, which allows individual shareholders to bring an action seeking to represent the class or classes of shareholders, does not exist in |
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Singapore. However, it is possible as a matter of procedure for a number of shareholders to lead an action and establish liability on behalf of themselves and other shareholders who join in or who are made parties to the action. These shareholders are commonly known as lead plaintiffs. Further, there are circumstances under the provisions of certain Singapore statutes where shareholders may file and prove their claims for compensation in the event that the company has been convicted of a criminal offense or has a court order for the payment of a civil penalty made against it. | ||
Distributions and Dividends; Repurchases and Redemptions | ||
The Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends out of statutory surplus or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or for the preceding fiscal year as long as the amount of capital of the corporation following the declaration and payment of the dividend is not less than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, any corporation may purchase or redeem its own shares, except that generally it may not purchase or redeem these shares if the capital of the corporation is impaired at the time or would become impaired as a result of the redemption. A corporation may, however, purchase or redeem out of capital shares that are entitled upon any distribution of its assets to a preference over another class or series of its shares if the shares are to be retired and the capital reduced. |
The Singapore Companies Act provides that no dividends can be paid to shareholders except out of profits.
The Singapore Companies Act does not provide a definition on when profits are deemed to be available for the purpose of paying dividends and this is accordingly governed by case law.
Our articles provide that no dividend can be paid otherwise than out of profits.
Acquisition of a companys own shares
The Singapore Companies Act generally prohibits a company from acquiring its own shares subject to certain exceptions. Any contract or transaction by which a company acquires or transfers its own shares is void. However, provided that it is expressly permitted to do so by its articles and subject to the special conditions of each permitted acquisition contained in the Singapore Companies Act, a company may:
redeem redeemable preference shares (the redemption of these shares will not reduce the capital of the company). Preference shares may be redeemed out of capital if all the directors make a solvency statement in relation to such redemption in accordance with the Singapore Companies Act;
whether listed on a securities exchange or not, make an off-market purchase of its own shares in accordance with an equal access scheme authorized in advance at a general meeting;
if it is not listed on a securities exchange, make a selective off-market purchase of its own shares in accordance with an agreement authorized in advance at a general meeting by a special resolution where persons whose shares are to be acquired and their associated persons have abstained from voting; and
whether listed on a securities exchange or not, make an acquisition of its own shares under a contingent purchase contract which has been authorized in advance at a general meeting by a special resolution.
A company may also purchase its own shares by an order of a Singapore court. |
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The total number of ordinary shares that may be acquired by a company in a relevant period may not exceed 10% of the total number of ordinary shares in that class as of the date of the last annual general meeting of the company or as of the date of the resolution to acquire the shares, whichever is higher. Where, however, a company has reduced its share capital by a special resolution or a Singapore court made an order to such effect, the total number of ordinary shares in any class shall be taken to be the total number of ordinary shares in that class as altered by the special resolution or the order of the court. Payment must be made out of the companys distributable profits or capital, provided that the company is solvent.
Financial assistance for the acquisition of shares
A company may not give financial assistance to any person whether directly or indirectly for the purpose of:
the acquisition or proposed acquisition of shares in the company or units of such shares; or
the acquisition or proposed acquisition of shares in its holding company or units of such shares.
Financial assistance may take the form of a loan, the giving of a guarantee, the provision of security, the release of an obligation, the release of a debt or otherwise.
However, it should be noted that a company may provide financial assistance for the acquisition of its shares or shares in its holding company if it complies with the requirements (including approval by special resolution) set out in the Singapore Companies Act. Our articles provide that subject to the provisions of the Singapore Companies Act, we may purchase or otherwise acquire our own shares upon such terms and subject to such conditions as we may deem fit. These shares may be held as treasury shares or cancelled as provided in the Singapore Companies Act or dealt with in such manner as may be permitted under the Singapore Companies Act. On cancellation of the shares, the rights and privileges attached to those shares will expire. | ||
Transactions with Officers or Directors | ||
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, some contracts or transactions in which one or more of a corporations directors has an interest are not void or voidable because of such interest provided that some conditions, such as obtaining the required approval and fulfilling the requirements of good faith and full disclosure, are met. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, either (a) the stockholders or the board of directors must approve in good faith any such contract or transaction after full disclosure of the material facts or (b) the contract or transaction must have been fair as to the corporation | Under the Singapore Companies Act, directors are not prohibited from dealing with the company, but where they have an interest in a transaction with the company, that interest must be disclosed to the board of directors. In particular, every director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a transaction or proposed transaction with the company must, as soon practicable after the relevant facts have come to such directors knowledge, declare the nature of such directors interest at a board of directors meeting. In addition, a director who holds any office or possesses any |
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at the time it was approved. If board approval is sought, the contract or transaction must be approved in good faith by a majority of disinterested directors after full disclosure of material facts, even though less than a majority of a quorum. | property which directly or indirectly might create interests in conflict with such directors duties as director is required to declare the fact and the nature, character and extent of the conflict at a meeting of directors.
The Singapore Companies Act extends the scope of this statutory duty of a director to disclose any interests by pronouncing that an interest of a member of a directors family (including spouse, son, adopted son, step-son, daughter, adopted daughter and step-daughter) will be treated as an interest of the director.
There is however no requirement for disclosure where the interest of the director consists only of being a member or creditor of a corporation which is interested in the proposed transaction with the company if the interest may properly be regarded as immaterial. Where the proposed transaction relates to any loan to the company, no disclosure need be made where the director has only guaranteed the repayment of such loan, unless the articles of association provide otherwise.
Further, where the proposed transaction is to be made with or for the benefit of a related corporation (i.e. the holding company, subsidiary or subsidiary of a common holding company) no disclosure need be made of the fact that the director is also a director of that corporation, unless the articles of association provide otherwise.
Subject to specified exceptions, the Singapore Companies Act prohibits a company from making a loan to its directors or to directors of a related corporation, or giving a guarantee or security in connection with such a loan. Companies are also prohibited from making loans to its directors spouse or children (whether adopted or naturally or step-children), or giving a guarantee or security in connection with such a loan. | |
Dissenters Rights | ||
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a stockholder of a corporation participating in some types of major corporate transactions may, under varying circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which the stockholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair market value of his or her shares in lieu of the consideration he or she would otherwise receive in the transaction. | There are no equivalent provisions in Singapore under the Singapore Companies Act. | |
Cumulative Voting | ||
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may adopt in its bylaws that its directors shall be elected by cumulative voting. When directors are elected by cumulative voting, a stockholder has the | There is no equivalent provision in respect of companies incorporated in Singapore. |
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number of votes equal to the number of shares held by such stockholder times the number of directors nominated for election. The stockholder may cast all of such votes for one director or among the directors in any proportion. | ||
Anti-Takeover Measures | ||
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the certificate of incorporation of a corporation may give the board the right to issue new classes of preferred stock with voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights to be determined by the board at the time of issuance, which could prevent a takeover attempt and thereby preclude shareholders from realizing a potential premium over the market value of their shares. | The articles of a Singapore company typically provide that the company may allot and issue new shares of a different class with preferential, deferred, qualified or other special rights as its board of directors may determine with the prior approval of the companys shareholders in a general meeting. Our articles provide that our shareholders may grant to our board the general authority to issue such preference shares until the next general meeting. See Description of Share CapitalPreference Shares elsewhere in this prospectus. | |
In addition, Delaware law does not prohibit a corporation from adopting a stockholder rights plan, or poison pill, which could prevent a takeover attempt and also preclude shareholders from realizing a potential premium over the market value of their shares. | Singapore law does not generally prohibit a corporation from adopting poison pill arrangements which could prevent a takeover attempt and also preclude shareholders from realizing a potential premium over the market value of their shares.
However, under the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers, if, in the course of an offer, or even before the date of the offer, the board of the offeree company has reason to believe that a bona fide offer is imminent, the board must not, except pursuant to a contract entered into earlier, take any action, without the approval of shareholders at a general meeting, on the affairs of the offeree company that could effectively result in any bona fide offer being frustrated or the shareholders being denied an opportunity to decide on its merits.
See Description of Share CapitalTakeovers elsewhere in this prospectus for a description of the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers. |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the supplement whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.
We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee. We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below, we have included references to the section numbers of the indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the indenture.
As used in this section only, Avago, we, our or us refer to Avago Technologies Limited excluding our subsidiaries, unless expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officers certificate or by a supplemental indenture. (Section 2.2) The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:
| the title and ranking of the debt securities; |
| the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities; |
| any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| the date or dates on which we will pay the principal of and premium, if any, on the debt securities; |
| the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| the place or places where principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be payable; |
| the price or prices and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities; |
| any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities; |
| the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations; |
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| the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
| the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount; |
| the currency of denomination of the debt securities; |
| the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made; |
| if payments of principal of, premium or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined; |
| the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
| any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
| any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities (Section 2.2); and |
| any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series. |
In addition, the indenture does not limit our ability to issue convertible or subordinated debt securities. Any conversion or subordination provisions of a particular series of debt securities will be set forth in the resolution of our board of directors, the officers certificate or supplemental indenture related to that series of debt securities, as applicable, and will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion, either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, in which case the number of shares of ordinary shares or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the prospectus supplement.
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Transfer and Exchange
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as Depositary, or the Depositary, or a nominee (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a book-entry debt security), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer
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to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a certificated debt security) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.
Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.
You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. Please see Global Securities.
No Protection In the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person (a successor person) unless:
| we are the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than Avago) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; |
| immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing under the indenture; and |
| certain other conditions are met. |
Notwithstanding the above, any subsidiary of Avago may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to Avago. (Section 5.1)
Events of Default
Event of Default means with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
| default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of that default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period); |
| default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any debt security of that series when due and payable; |
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| default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or we and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture; |
| certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Avago; and |
| any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. (Section 6.1) The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.
If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. (Section 6.2) We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.
The indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. (Section 7.1(e)) Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series. (Section 6.12)
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
| that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series; and |
| the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity or security, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days. (Section 6.7) |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment. (Section 6.8)
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The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. (Section 4.3) The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities. (Section 7.5)
Modification and Waiver
We may modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:
| reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security; |
| reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities; |
| reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity; |
| waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security; |
| make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest on those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or |
| waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security. (Section 9.3) |
Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. (Section 9.2) The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or any interest on any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration. (Section 6.13)
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of such series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of such series, and to maintain paying agencies and certain provisions relating to the treatment of funds held by paying agents). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, Foreign Government Obligations, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.
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This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred. (Section 8.3)
Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:
| we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and |
| any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series (covenant defeasance). |
The conditions include:
| depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. Government Obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, Foreign Government Obligations, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and |
| delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred. (Section 8.4) |
Covenant Defeasance and Events of Default. In the event we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of that series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the Event of Default. However, we shall remain liable for those payments.
Foreign Government Obligations means, with respect to debt securities of any series that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. Dollars:
| direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; or |
| obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of that government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by that government which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof. |
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York. (Section 10.10)
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The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which consist of warrants to purchase ordinary shares and/or debt securities in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with ordinary shares and/or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities.
While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future warrants we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The specific terms of any warrants may differ from the description provided below as a result of negotiations with third parties in connection with the issuance of those warrants, as well as for other reasons. Because the terms of any warrants we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below, you should rely solely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement if that summary is different from the summary in this prospectus.
We will issue the warrants under a warrant agreement, which we will enter into with a warrant agent to be selected by us. We use the term warrant agreement to refer to any of these warrant agreements. We use the term warrant agent to refer to the warrant agent under any of these warrant agreements. The warrant agent will act solely as an agent of ours in connection with the warrants and will not act as an agent for the holders or beneficial owners of the warrants.
We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of warrant agreement, including a form of warrant certificate, that describes the terms of the series of warrants we are offering before the issuance of the related series of warrants. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement applicable to a particular series of warrants. We urge you to read any applicable prospectus supplement related to the warrants that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreement that contain the terms of the warrants and defines your rights as a warrant holder.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms relating to a series of warrants. If warrants for the purchase of debt securities are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, to the extent applicable:
| the offering price and the aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| the currencies in which the warrants are being offered; |
| the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities that can be purchased if a holder exercises a warrant; |
| the designation and terms of any series of debt securities with which the warrants are being offered and the number of warrants offered with each such debt security; |
| the date on and after which the holder of the warrants can transfer them separately from the related series of debt securities; |
| the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date on which that right expires; |
| federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; and |
| any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the warrants. |
Warrants for the purchase of debt securities will be in registered form only.
If warrants for the purchase of ordinary shares are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, to the extent applicable:
| the offering price and the aggregate number of warrants offered; |
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| the total number of shares that can be purchased if a holder of the warrants exercises them; |
| the date on and after which the holder of the warrants can transfer them separately from the related ordinary shares; |
| the number of ordinary shares that can be purchased if a holder exercises the warrant and the price at which that ordinary share may be purchased upon exercise, including, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price and in the securities or other property receivable upon exercise; |
| the terms of any rights to redeem or call, or accelerate the expiration of, the warrants; |
| the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date on which that right expires; |
| federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; and |
| any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the warrants. |
Warrants for the purchase of ordinary shares will be in registered form only.
A holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Until any warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to receive payments of principal, premium or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture. Until any warrants to purchase ordinary shares are exercised, holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying ordinary shares, including any rights to receive dividends or to exercise any voting rights, except to the extent set forth under Warrant Adjustments below.
Exercise of Warrants
Each holder of a warrant is entitled to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or number of ordinary shares, as the case may be, at the exercise price described in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the day when the right to exercise terminates (or a later date if we extend the time for exercise), unexercised warrants will become void.
A holder of warrants may exercise them by following the general procedure outlined below:
| delivering to the warrant agent the payment required by the applicable prospectus supplement to purchase the underlying security; |
| properly completing and signing the reverse side of the warrant certificate representing the warrants; and |
| delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to the warrant agent within five business days of the warrant agent receiving payment of the exercise price. |
If you comply with the procedures described above, your warrants will be considered to have been exercised when the warrant agent receives payment of the exercise price, subject to the transfer books for the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrant not being closed on such date. After you have completed those procedures and subject to the foregoing, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver to you the debt securities or ordinary shares that you purchased upon exercise. If you exercise fewer than all of the warrants represented by a warrant certificate, a new warrant certificate will be issued to you for the unexercised amount of warrants. Holders of warrants will be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with transferring the underlying securities in connection with the exercise of the warrants.
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Amendments and Supplements to the Warrant Agreements
We may amend or supplement a warrant agreement without the consent of the holders of the applicable warrants to cure ambiguities in the warrant agreement, to cure or correct a defective provision in the warrant agreement, or to provide for other matters under the warrant agreement that we and the warrant agent deem necessary or desirable, so long as, in each case, such amendments or supplements do not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.
Warrant Adjustments
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the exercise price of, and the number of securities covered by, an ordinary share warrant will be adjusted proportionately if we subdivide or combine our ordinary shares, as applicable. In addition, unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, if we, without payment:
| issue ordinary shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for ordinary shares, or any rights to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any of the foregoing, as a dividend or distribution to all or substantially all holders of our ordinary shares; |
| pay any cash to all or substantially all holders of our ordinary shares, other than a cash dividend paid out of our current or retained earnings; |
| issue any evidence of our indebtedness or rights to subscribe for or purchase our indebtedness to all or substantially all holders of our ordinary shares; or |
| issue ordinary shares or additional shares or other securities or property to all or substantially all holders of our ordinary shares by way of spinoff, split-up, reclassification, combination of shares or similar corporate rearrangement, |
then the holders of ordinary share warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the warrants, in addition to the securities otherwise receivable upon exercise of the warrants and without paying any additional consideration, the amount of shares and other securities and property such holders would have been entitled to receive had they held the ordinary shares issuable under the warrants on the dates on which holders of those securities received or became entitled to receive such additional shares and other securities and property.
Except as stated above, the exercise price and number of securities covered by an ordinary share warrant, and the amounts of other securities or property to be received, if any, upon exercise of those warrants, will not be adjusted or provided for if we issue those securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities, or securities carrying the right to purchase those securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities.
Holders of ordinary share warrants may have additional rights under the following circumstances:
| certain reclassifications, capital reorganizations or changes of the ordinary shares; |
| certain share exchanges, mergers, or similar transactions involving us and which result in changes of the ordinary shares; or |
| certain sales or dispositions to another entity of all or substantially all of our property and assets. |
If one of the above transactions occurs and holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to receive shares, securities or other property with respect to or in exchange for their securities, the holders of the ordinary share warrants then outstanding, as applicable, will be entitled to receive upon exercise of their warrants the kind and amount of shares and other securities or property that they would have received upon the applicable transaction if they had exercised their warrants immediately before the transaction.
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The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the rights that we may offer under this prospectus. We may issue rights to our shareholders to purchase our ordinary shares and/or any of the other securities offered hereby. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. When we issue rights, we will provide the specific terms of the rights and the applicable rights agreement in a prospectus supplement. Because the terms of any rights we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below, you should rely solely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement if that summary is different from the summary in this prospectus. We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of rights agreement that describes the terms of the series of rights we are offering before the issuance of the related series of rights.
If we offer any series of rights, certain terms of that series of rights will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following:
| the date of determining the shareholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights; |
| the exercise price; |
| the aggregate number of rights issued; |
| the date, if any, on and after which the rights will be separately transferable; |
| the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence, and the date on which the right will expire; |
| a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the rights; and |
| any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights. |
Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the securities at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will be void.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the purchase contracts that we may offer under this prospectus. While the features we have summarized below will generally apply to any future purchase contracts we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any purchase contracts that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The specific terms of any purchase contracts may differ from the description provided below as a result of negotiations with third parties in connection with the issuance of those purchase contracts, as well as for other reasons. Because the terms of any purchase contracts we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below, you should rely solely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement if that summary is different from the summary in this prospectus.
We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of any purchase contract that we may offer under this prospectus before the sale of the related purchase contract. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the specific purchase contracts being offered, as well as the complete instruments that contain the terms of the securities that are subject to those purchase contracts. Certain of those instruments, or forms of those instruments, have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplements to those instruments or forms may be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part from reports we file with the SEC.
We may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and for us to sell to holders, a specific or variable number of our, or an unaffiliated entitys, securities at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specific or varying number of our securities. When we issue purchase contracts, we will provide the specific terms of the purchase contracts in a prospectus supplement. A copy of the applicable form of purchase contract will be included as an exhibit to a report we file with the SEC incorporated by reference herein.
If we offer any purchase contracts, certain terms of that series of purchase contracts will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following:
| the price of the securities or other property subject to the purchase contracts (which may be determined by reference to a specific formula described in the purchase contracts); |
| whether the purchase contracts are issued separately, or as a part of units each consisting of a purchase contract and one or more of our other securities or securities of an unaffiliated entity, including U.S. Treasury securities, securing the holders obligations under the purchase contract; |
| any requirement for us to make periodic payments to holders or vice versa, and whether the payments are unsecured or prefunded; |
| any provisions relating to any security provided for the purchase contracts; |
| whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder or us to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts; |
| whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not; |
| whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract; |
| any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts; |
| a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase contracts; |
| whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form; and |
| any other terms of the purchase contracts and any securities subject to such purchase contracts. |
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The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. We may issue units consisting of two or more other constituent securities. These units may be issuable as, and for a specified period of time may be transferable only as a single security, rather than as the separate constituent securities comprising such units. While the features we have summarized below will generally apply to any units we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any units that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The specific terms of any units may differ from the description provided below as a result of negotiations with third parties in connection with the issuance of those units, as well as for other reasons. Because the terms of any units we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below, you should rely solely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement if that summary is different from the summary in this prospectus.
We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the specific units being offered, as well as the complete instruments that contain the terms of the securities that comprise those units. Certain of those instruments, or forms of those instruments, have been or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplements to those instruments or forms may be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part from reports we file with the SEC.
If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:
| the title of the series of units; |
| identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units; |
| the price or prices at which the units will be issued; |
| the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable; |
| a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and |
| any other terms of the units and their constituent securities. |
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Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
Unless we indicate differently in a prospectus supplement, the securities initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes or global securities, or, collectively, global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.
DTC has advised us that it is:
| a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law; |
| a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law; |
| a member of the Federal Reserve System; |
| a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and |
| a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. |
DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, which we sometimes refer to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTCs records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTCs partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTCs records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency in the location specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities and the indenture may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.
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Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTCs practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the securities of such series to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.
So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If securities are issued in definitive certificated form under the limited circumstances described below, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment or by wire transfer to bank accounts in the United States designated in writing to the applicable trustee or other designated party at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment.
Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTCs practice is to credit direct participants accounts upon DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in street name. Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the indenture.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depository is not obtained, securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:
| DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global security or securities representing such series of securities or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be registered and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days of the notification to us or of our becoming aware of DTCs ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be; |
| we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have such securities represented by one or more global securities; or |
| an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series of securities, |
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we will prepare and deliver certificates for such securities in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.
We have obtained the information in this section and elsewhere in this prospectus concerning DTC and DTCs book-entry system from sources that are believed to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
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If the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is used by selling securityholders for the resale of any securities registered thereunder pursuant to a registration rights agreement between us and such selling securityholders or otherwise, information about such selling securityholders, their beneficial ownership of our securities and their relationship with us will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into such registration statement.
We, or selling securityholders, may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods or through underwriters or dealers, through agents and/or directly to one or more purchasers. The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions:
| at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| at negotiated prices. |
Each time that we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements that will describe the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us and/or the selling securityholders, if applicable.
Offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus may be solicited directly. Agents may also be designated to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities will be identified in a prospectus supplement.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
If an underwriter is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter at the time of sale and the name of any underwriter will be provided in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we, or selling securityholders, or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.
Any compensation paid to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof and to reimburse those persons for certain expenses.
The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the
40
price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, underwriters or other persons acting as agents may be authorized to solicit offers by institutions or other suitable purchasers to purchase the securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement, pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the prospectus supplement. These purchasers may include, among others, commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. Delayed delivery contracts will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities covered by the delayed delivery contracts will not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and agents will not have any responsibility with respect to the validity or performance of these contracts.
We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of ordinary shares, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of ordinary shares. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a posteffective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.
Certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities with respect to Singapore law will be passed upon for us by WongPartnership LLP. Certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities with respect to U.S. law will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, Menlo Park, California. Partners of Latham & Watkins LLP, members of their respective families, related persons and others have an indirect interest, through limited partnerships that are investors in funds affiliated with KKR, in less than 1% of our ordinary shares.
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 1, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
41
PART II.
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance And Distribution. |
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, all of which will be paid by the registrants, in connection with the distribution of the securities being registered. All amounts are estimated, except the SEC registration fee:
SEC registration fee |
$ | (1 | ) | |
Trustees fees and expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
Printing expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
Legal fees and expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
Blue Sky fees and expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
Accounting fees and expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
Miscellaneous expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
Total |
$ | (2 | ) | |
(1) | Under SEC Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the SEC registration fee will be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under the registration statement, and is therefore not currently determinable. |
(2) | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Subject to the Singapore Companies Act and every other Act for the time being in force concerning companies and affecting the Registrant, the Registrants articles of association provides that, subject to the Singapore Companies Act and every other Act for the time being in force concerning companies and affecting the Registrant, every director, managing director, secretary or other officer of the Registrant and its subsidiaries and affiliates shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant against any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favor; or in which he is acquitted; or in connection with any application under the Singapore Companies Act in which relief is granted to him by the Court.
In addition, no director, managing director, secretary or other officer shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other director or officer, or for joining in any receipt or other act for conformity, or for any loss or expense incurred by the Registrant, through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by order of the directors for the Registrant or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security upon which any of the moneys of the Registrant are invested or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortious act of any person with whom any moneys, securities or effects are deposited, or any other loss, damage or misfortune which happens in the execution of his duties, unless the same happens through his own negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust.
Section 172 of the Singapore Companies Act prohibits a company from indemnifying its directors or officers against liability, which by law would otherwise attach to them for any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which they may be guilty relating to the Registrant. However, a company is not prohibited from (a) purchasing and maintaining for any such officer insurance against any such liability, or (b) indemnifying such officer against any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favor or in which he is acquitted, or in connection with any application under Section 76A(13) or 391 or any other provision of the Singapore Companies Act in which relief is granted to him by the court.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its officers and directors. These indemnification agreements provide the Registrants officers and directors with indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by the Singapore Companies Act. The Registrant has also obtained a policy of directors and officers liability insurance that will insure directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment under certain circumstances which are permitted under the Singapore Companies Act.
ITEM 16. | Exhibits. |
Exhibit |
Description | |
1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |
4.1 | Memorandum and Articles of Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Avago Technologies Limiteds Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 14, 2009). | |
4.2 | Form of Specimen Share Certificate for Avago Technologies Limiteds Ordinary Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Avago Technologies Limiteds Amendment No.
3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on July 14, 2009). | |
4.3 | Second Amended and Restated Shareholder Agreement, dated August 11, 2009, among Avago Technologies Limited, Silver Lake Partners II Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake Technology Investors II Cayman, L.P., Integral Capital Partners VII, L.P., KKR Millennium Fund (Overseas), Limited Partnership, KKR European Fund, Limited Partnership, KKR European Fund II, Limited Partnership, KKR Partners (International), Limited Partnership, Capstone Equity Investors LLC, Avago Investment Partners, Limited Partnership, Bali Investments S.àr.l., Seletar Investments Pte Ltd, Geyser Investment Pte. Ltd. and certain other Persons (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Avago Technologies Limiteds Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 14, 2009). | |
4.4 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 1, 2005, among Avago Technologies Limited, Silver Lake Partners II Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake Technology Investors II Cayman, L.P., Integral Capital Partners VII, L.P., KKR Millennium Fund (Overseas), Limited Partnership, KKR European Fund, Limited Partnership, KKR European Fund II, Limited Partnership, KKR Partners (International), Limited Partnership, Capstone Equity Investors LLC, Avago Investment Partners, Limited Partnership, Bali Investments S.àr.l., Seletar Investments Pte Ltd, Geyser Investment Pte. Ltd. and certain other Persons (Registration Rights Agreement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd. Registration Statement on Form F-4 (Commission File No. 333-137664), filed on September 29, 2006). | |
4.5 | Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 21, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Avago Technologies Limited Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on August 21, 2008). | |
4.6 | Share Option Agreement, dated February 3, 2006, between Avago Technologies Limited and Capstone Equity Investors LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Avago Technologies Limited Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on August 21, 2008). | |
4.7 | Form of Management Shareholders Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies Limited Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on October 1, 2008). | |
4.8+ | Form of Indenture. | |
4.9* | Form of Note. | |
4.10* | Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate. | |
4.11* | Form of Debt Securities Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate. | |
4.12* | Form of Rights Agreement. | |
4.13* | Form of Purchase Contract. | |
4.14* | Form of Unit. | |
5.1+ | Opinion of WongPartnership LLP | |
5.2+ | Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP | |
12.1+ | Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. |
Exhibit |
Description | |
23.1+ | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | |
23.2+ | Consent of WongPartnership LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
23.3+ | Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2). | |
24.1+ | Powers of Attorney (included on signature pages). | |
25.1+ | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for the Debt Securities. |
* | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report of the registrant on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. |
+ | Filed herewith. |
ITEM 17. | UNDERTAKINGS. |
(a) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
i. To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
ii. To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and
iii. To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrants pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
i. Each prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
ii. Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date;
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrants under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrants undertake that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrants pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrants will be sellers to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
i. Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrants relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
ii. Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants or used or referred to by the undersigned registrants;
iii. The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrants or their securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants; and
iv. Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrants to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of their counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by them is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California, on the 6th day of August, 2010.
AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED | ||
By: | /S/ HOCK E. TAN | |
Hock E. Tan | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints Hock E. Tan, Douglas R. Bettinger and Patricia H. McCall, and each of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, including any and all post-effective amendments and amendments thereto, and any registration statement relating to the same offering as this Registration Statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof. This power of attorney may be executed in counterparts.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
/S/ HOCK E. TAN Hock E. Tan |
President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director |
August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ DOUGLAS R. BETTINGER Douglas R. Bettinger |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ JAMES DILLER James Diller |
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ ADAM. H. CLAMMER Adam. H. Clammer |
Director |
August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ JAMES A. DAVIDSON James A. Davidson |
Director |
August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ KENNETH Y. HAO Kenneth Y. Hao |
Director |
August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ DAVID M. KERKO David M. Kerko |
Director |
August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ DONALD MACLEOD Donald Macleod |
Director |
August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ JUSTINE LIEN Justine Lien |
Director |
August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ BOCK SENG TAN Bock Seng Tan |
Director |
August 6, 2010 | ||
/S/ DOUGLAS R. BETTINGER Douglas R. Bettinger |
Authorized Representative in the United States |
August 6, 2010 |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit |
Description | |
1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |
4.1 | Memorandum and Articles of Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Avago Technologies Limiteds Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 14, 2009). | |
4.2 | Form of Specimen Share Certificate for Avago Technologies Limiteds Ordinary Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Avago Technologies Limiteds Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on July 14, 2009). | |
4.3 | Second Amended and Restated Shareholder Agreement, dated August 11, 2009, among Avago Technologies Limited, Silver Lake Partners II Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake Technology Investors II Cayman, L.P., Integral Capital Partners VII, L.P., KKR Millennium Fund (Overseas), Limited Partnership, KKR European Fund, Limited Partnership, KKR European Fund II, Limited Partnership, KKR Partners (International), Limited Partnership, Capstone Equity Investors LLC, Avago Investment Partners, Limited Partnership, Bali Investments S.àr.l., Seletar Investments Pte Ltd, Geyser Investment Pte. Ltd. and certain other Persons (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Avago Technologies Limiteds Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 14, 2009). | |
4.4 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 1, 2005, among Avago Technologies Limited, Silver Lake Partners II Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake Technology Investors II Cayman, L.P., Integral Capital Partners VII, L.P., KKR Millennium Fund (Overseas), Limited Partnership, KKR European Fund, Limited Partnership, KKR European Fund II, Limited Partnership, KKR Partners (International), Limited Partnership, Capstone Equity Investors LLC, Avago Investment Partners, Limited Partnership, Bali Investments S.àr.l., Seletar Investments Pte Ltd, Geyser Investment Pte. Ltd. and certain other Persons (Registration Rights Agreement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd. Registration Statement on Form F-4 (Commission File No. 333-137664), filed on September 29, 2006). | |
4.5 | Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 21, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Avago Technologies Limited Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on August 21, 2008). | |
4.6 | Share Option Agreement, dated February 3, 2006, between Avago Technologies Limited and Capstone Equity Investors LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Avago Technologies Limited Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on August 21, 2008). | |
4.7 | Form of Management Shareholders Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies Limited Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on October 1, 2008). | |
4.8+ | Form of Indenture. | |
4.9* | Form of Note. | |
4.10* | Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate. | |
4.11* | Form of Debt Securities Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate. | |
4.12* | Form of Rights Agreement. | |
4.13* | Form of Purchase Contract. | |
4.14* | Form of Unit. | |
5.1+ | Opinion of WongPartnership LLP | |
5.2+ | Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP |
Exhibit |
Description | |
12.1+ | Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. | |
23.1+ | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | |
23.2+ | Consent of WongPartnership LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
23.3+ | Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2). | |
24.1+ | Powers of Attorney (included on signature pages). | |
25.1+ | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for the Debt Securities. |
* | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report of the registrant on Form 10-K, 10-Q or 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. |
+ | Filed herewith. |